Wellness Unedited

Today's episode features Emily Fletcher, founder of Ziva Meditation. Ziva is a type of meditation that uses a three-part technique to help you reduce stress, feel better, and improve your mental resilience.  In today's episode, we chat all about meditation, the difference between meditation and mindfulness, how to reframe stress, and we chat about Emily's story finding meditation and eventually creating the Ziva technique. Link: zivameditation.com "Stress Less, Accomplish More" book ZivaKIDS

Dan Churchill is a performance chef (he was Lindsey Vonn's personal chef during the 2018 Winter Olympics), a former contestant on MasterChef Australia, named one of Forbes' 30 Under 30 in 2019, and he is the owner of Charley Street Cafe in NYC. Dan is also a health and fitness coach and the chef for Chris Hemsworth's wellness app Centr. In today's episode, you'll hear all about Dan's approachable take to healthy living and how his Aussie roots influenced his passion for healthy food and living an active lifestyle. We chat about his background as a chef, and how he started working with Chris Hemsworth on the Centr app. We also chat about how to make healthy cooking less intimidating, the importance of taking care of yourself, and all things food and community. Links: Dan's website Centr app Dan's IG: @dan_churchill  Charley Street

Elizabeth and Dale are the co-founders and influencers behind the fitness and lifestyle blog/Instagram account Sweats and The City. The two friends started out sharing honest reviews of fitness classes in NYC and eventually built their platform/blog into a full-time business. As part of the Work in Wellness Series, I sat down with the duo to chat about what happens behind-the-scenes as influencers, how they built their business from a side-hustle to full-time, and they share their tips and advice for aspiring influencers.  Links: Sweats and The City Instagram Sweat with Sweats  Sweatsandcity.com  

Welcome to the new Work in Wellness Wednesday series! With so many people launching new careers, pivoting, or starting side-hustles, lots of people are looking for advice while navigating this shift and new normal. I get asked a lot about how to freelance or break into the wellness industry, so I'm starting a new series with new episodes every other Wednesday where I interview different industry professionals about their career path and how to do what they do. One of the most frequently asked questions I get as a full-time freelance writer/consultant is how to start freelance writing. Diana Levey is a veteran journalist, editor, and writer and has been a full-time freelance writer since 2013. She has a track record writing for top health media outlets and brands and now she helps other freelancers learn how to build sustainable freelance careers through coaching and resources on her website Dianakelly.com. No matter what topics or industry you're interested in writing about, Diana's advice is a must-listen if you're interested in starting a freelance side hustle or full-time career. In today's episode we cover: -How Diana started freelancing after she was laid off from a media job -Her advice for new writers looking to build their portfolio and start pitching media outlets -The "unsexy" business side of freelance writing you should know about -What type of training or background you need to get started (hint: pretty much anyone can do it) -Diana's tips for getting your first freelance writing assignment -Her tips for writing about health and wellness and if you need to have a writing niche -How to set your rates Links: DianaKelly.com Diana's e-courses: Freelance Writing Weekend Jumpstart and Get Paid to Write  https://freelance-writing-online-course.teachable.com/ Use code WellnessUnedited for 20% off Diana's courses or e-books! Mediabistro.com (The site I mentioned for more freelance writing resources) Find me and read my articles at merceylivingston.com

Are you curious about all the hype surrounding CBD? It's one of the most talked about and controversial topics in wellness, and there's a lot to know when it comes to how CBD actually works (and if it works), what kinds of products are out there, and the science behind all of the buzz. Chris Roth was an investment banker who studied CBD research before anyone really knew about it and became an early-adopter of CBD. After seeing positive results with CBD personally for managing his anxiety, he knew he had to share what he found. So Highline Wellness was born and it was one of the first brands to bring CBD to New York City's wellness scene. In today's episode, you'll hear about Chris's journey founding a CBD company (before the craze started) and the story behind the science of CBD and why it's taken so long to get more research on the products. Disclaimer: CBD products are not regulated or approved by the FDA (except for one prescription drug) and you should consult your doctor or healthcare professional before starting this or any other supplement. Chris is giving Wellness Unedited listeners 20% off your order at Highline Wellness with code: wellnessunedited20  P.s. my fave product is the Mint CBD Oil  Topic breakdown by the minute: 6:30- How Chris discovered CBD when he worked at an investment bank 11:00 - The history and current state of CBD research  17: 00 - The story behind how CBD helped his family's dog with health issues 21:00 - How CBD works to help keep your body in balance 25:40  - How to choose the best CBD product and dosage for you 31:40 - CBD and anxiety  36:30 - Chris's experience with panic attacks and anxiety and how CBD helped  50:00 - THC concerns: Will CBD show on a drug test? Links: Chris Roth Instagram Highline Wellness Instagram Highline Wellness website  

Gut health is one of the buzziest and most complicated topics in wellness. To help break it all down I'm sitting down with Dr. Will Bulsiewicz (aka Dr. B), a gastroenterologist and gut health expert and NYT Bestselling author of Fiber Fueled. Dr. Bulsiewicz went from being a sick, anxious young doctor to totally transforming his health with diet and lifestyle after adopting a plant-based diet thanks to his then-girlfriend now wife. Since then he's preached the power of diet and lifestyle to help his own patients heal and optimize their gut health as a doctor. We talk about optimizing your gut health through plants and fiber, the gut health and immune system connection, how your gut affects your brain and mental health, and what you really need to know about probiotic supplements. Dr. B also shares tips for how to navigate wellness information overload and how to figure out what is research-backed and based on solid science.  Topics by the minute: 9:00 - Dr. B's experience with anxiety, weight gain, and high blood pressure and how he transformed his health through a plant-based eating approach 14:50 - Mental health, anxiety, and the gut health connection  20:00 - Why doctors don't usually teach patients about nutrition  26:00 - Getting to the root of the problem and addressing health problems holistically with food and lifestyle  27:15 - How elimination diets and other restrictive diets can harm gut health and the microbiome 32: 00 - The American Gut project study that said the diversity of plants is the key to supporting microbes in the gut 37: 00 - Navigating health information and how to find information rooted in science  44:00 - How to get enough fiber in your diet with food and supplements + the truth about probiotics  49:00 - Dr. B's take on Wheat, gluten, and lectins aka some of the most controversial topics in nutrition and wellness  60:00 - Food sensitivities and testing and gluten sensitivity  Links:  Dr. B Research guide The Plant Fed Gut Online Course Fiber Fueled Book CHECK OUT Wellness Unedited on Instagram Mercey Livingston on Instagram WellnessUnedited.com NEW Work in Wellness Wednesday's career series launching soon! 

Alisa Vitti, HHC, AADP, is an integrative nutritionist, hormone expert, and best-selling author of WomanCode and In the Flo. She is the founder of Flo Living, a menstrual healthcare platform for women.  Alisa is on a mission to bring more gender inclusivity into the wellness conversation, especially when it comes to women's health and hormones. She's the first author to write about the infradian rhythm -- which is a unique biological rhythm that affects so many systems in your body that you'll hear about in the interview. Before Alisa built Flo Living, she was studying to go to medical school and pivoted when she realized there was a gap in the traditional medical system for teaching women about their hormones and how to make them work better.  We also talk about: -The cycle synching method -How women are systematically left out of medical research and how this is a huge problem when it comes to getting women the unique research and care they deserve -How to support your hormones during this crazy stressful time we are in Links: FloLiving.com My Flo App: Functional medicine period tracking and hormone balancing app Books: In the Flo WomanCode Cycle Synching Membership

Today's guest is the perfect example of how literally one connection can change your entire path -- personally and professionally.  Emily Merrell is the founder of Six Degrees Society, a group that is redefining networking. Networking is usually one of those obligations people feel like they have to do, and it may come with some level of dread. So Emily started Six Degrees Society to change the way we network and bring women (and men) together from all different industries and backgrounds to connect at events that focus on personal, professional, and lifestyle development. Now more than ever, we need to find ways to connect, foster relationships, and build a sense of community and Emily is helping so many people do that no matter where they are. In today's episode, we talk about how Emily had to pivot SDS to digital in light of COVID-19 and how she can reach so many more people than when the events were limited to IRL. Emily also shares some advice on networking in this new normal, and how you can try a SDS event for yourself with a code to go to your first event free!  Minute-by-minute topics: 14:40 -- How Emily transitioned from the fashion industry in NYC to founding Six Degrees Society  20:00 -- Why asking for help and hiring coaches is so important 23:00 -- How she's pivoted Six Degrees Society from IRL to virtual events 33:50 -- Tips for networking in the new normal 37:00 -- Emily's self-care routine  44:20 - How to join SDS and work with Emily   Links: First Six Degrees Society Event Free: Use Code: VIRTUALSDS Six Degrees Society Event Schedule Six Degrees Society Blog and Podcast Emily Merrell's website Book: Get it Together by Lauren Berger 

Tatiana Boncompagni is the founder of Eat Sunny, a Mediterranean-diet inspired meal delivery service, certified personal trainer, and a 15-year veteran journalist and editor.  She's written for amazing publications like The New York Times, SELF, Vogue, and more.  Topics: 7:30- How strength training and lifting weights changed her life 11:26 - "The joy of embodiment- whenever you can connect to your physical self and really bring that spiritual and physical self closer together, it's like magic." 14:00 -  "You don't need permission to wear revealing clothes or post a sports bra selfie." 20: 00 - How she saw a gap in the meal services market that were body-positive and started Eat Sunny 27:30 - Behind the Eat Sunny meal plans + options (plant-based, sustainable, with a Mediterranean diet approach) 39:00 - Tatiana's background as a journalist and editor, and writing a food column for SELF magazine  44:00 - Starting the Liftologie fitness method with model-trainer, Heather Marr  45:45 - How the journalism and magazine industry has changed Links: @tatiboncampagni   Eat Sunny Liftologie books: The Model Trainer Method + 28 Days to Strong Liftologie co-founder, Heather Marr @modeltrainermarr Wellness Unedited Website | Instagram | @merceylivingston

Today I'm so honored to have #PodcastQueens Krista Williams and Lindsey Simcik, hosts and creators of the Almost 30 podcast on the show. The Almost 30 Podcast is a top-rated lifestyle podcast, brand, and community that reaches over 12 million people across the world. Krista and Lindsey met in Los Angeles and created the podcast when they saw an opportunity to share real and raw information about the ups and downs of navigating the transition from your 20's to your 30's. Now Almost 30 is a full-on media brand and community with events, courses, workshops, and so much more. We chat all about Krista and Lindsey's journey to starting Almost 30, what they've learned while interviewing so many awesome guests over the years, wellness, and how they're navigating quarantine life and self-care. Minute by minute topics: 10:00 - How Krista and Lindsey connected over Soulcycle and eventually started the podcast 13:00 - How their relationship has evolved and what it's like to be friends and business partners  16:30 - Shadows and "shadow self" 19:20 - How Almost 30 guests have shaped their wellness journey and navigating wellness info overload 21:00 - Cycle synching  24:00 - What it's like to interview amazing guests like Glennon Doyle 29:00- How Krista and Lindsey have shifted their routines and self-care during quarantine 35:00- The biggest lessons they've learned during COVID-19 39:00- What Lindsey has learned from quarantining with her partner 44:00- Krista's body acceptance journey  58:00- New Paradigm Workshop Series Links: Almost 30 Website: https://almost30podcast.com/about Social media: Almost 30: @almost30podcast Krista: @itskrista Lindsey: @lindseysimcik The PodcastPro Program: https://www.yourpodcastpro.com/ New Paradigm Workshop Series Book: Untamed by Glennon Doyle Wellness Unedited Website + Instagram Mercey Livingston social : @merceylivingston

Latham Thomas is the founder of Mama Glow, a celebrity doula, and a doula educator helping more women reclaim the birth experience and find the emotional and spiritual support they need. She is a member of Oprah's Super Soul 100, Well+Good's Wellness Council, and she is the author of two books – Mama Glow and Own Your Glow. In this episode, Latham and I discuss her work and mission behind Mama Glow. We also cover important topics like systemic racism in healthcare and how African American and Native American women are disproportionately affected by maternal mortality (they are 4-5 times more likely to die from childbirth or pregnancy-related causes than white women.) We also discuss the dangers of performative or optical allyship and the importance of radical self-care in the current state of the world. Minute-by-minute topics: 5:19- Latham's mission and story behind Mama Glow 6:15 - What "reclaiming birth" means and the role doulas play in bridging gaps for the care mothers need 8:40 - Systemic and racial inequities in maternal healthcare 10:30 - Racism in healthcare  20:00- Optical allyship and why performative allyship is harmful 29:00- Taking authentic action to help others 35:00- Radical self-care and "mothering yourself first" 46: 00- Phone fasting Links: @mamaglow @glowmaven www.mamaglow.com Mama Glow Doula Home School Education Program

Lulu Ge is the co-founder of Elix Healing, which is a brand that combines the best of ancient wisdom and modern research for a holistic approach to health and menstrual health. Lulu co-founded Elix alongside her friend Nicole, who  is a board-certified acupuncturist and herbalist, with a doctorate in Chinese Medicine and women’s health. Lulu went to Nicole when she was experiencing debilitating cycle-related symptoms and she helped Lulu with a personalized herbal treatment. They joined forces and started Elix to help other women have better access to personalized herbal medicine. Lulu and I talk about so many great topics today including the importance of democratizing access to holistic health, something she set out to do with her company. Holistic health, functional medicine, herbalism, and even fitness classes should not be something that only a select group of people from a certain socioeconomic background can afford to access -- and Elix is a company that is truly helping make this happen through education and resources that anyone can get on their website. We also talk about the importance of decolonizing wellness. If you don't know what decolonizing wellness means, Lulu explains it in the interview today in terms of her own experience as a woman of color and a Chinese immigrant. I know this conversation made me think, reflect and want to learn more -- so I hope it does the same for you.   Topics we discuss: 11:42 - Lulu's background and story behind Elix 19:10 - How Lulu joined forces with her friend, Dr. Nicole 19:50 - The importance of the tongue in Chinese Medicine 22:30 - How your cycle is considered the "fifth vital sign" 25:30 - The statistics behind what symptoms Elix is seeing reported since the onset of COVID-19, like an increase in women reporting burnout, fatigue, mood swings, and extreme pain during their periods  28:00 - The connection between mental health and hormone health 37:20 - Lulu explains what democratizing access to holistic wellness means 44:15 - Wellness brands' responsibility to educate and not just sell products  46:06 - What Lulu says the wellness industry can improve upon when it comes to diversity and inclusion  49:20 - The roots of skepticism in herbal remedies  49:55 - Systems of oppression and the connection between systemic racism and sexism  51:45 - Explaining decolonizing wellness  54:00 - The clean beauty industry's roots in communities of color  Links: Elix Healing Website Elix Healing Instagram Lulu Ge Instagram My meditation resource: Ziva Meditation    More on Wellness Unedited: Wellnessunedited.com Instagram: @wellnessuneditedpodcast | @merceylivingston   

Today I'm sitting down with my friend Meredith Wadsworth, founder of The Hye Life. Meredith is a yoga instructor and a certified integrative health practitioner. I'm really excited to share her interview with you because her entire mission with her brand, work, and content she shares is all about honoring yourself every day. I think this is such a beautiful mission, especially in times like these.  Besides talking about Meredith's work and her journey to becoming a health coach and yoga instructor after working in the fashion industry, we also talk about her own experience with restrictive eating and how she eventually got diagnosed with Hypothalamic Amenorrhea (HA). We also talk about: 12:00 - The difference between wellness and well-being 14:30 - How Meredith left the fashion industry and found holistic health 16:00 - Discovering IIN and eventually Stephen Cabral and the Integrative Health Practitioner program where she is certified 18:00 - Pros and cons of using diagnostic testing + how optimal lab test ranges are different in functional medicine 24:00 - The supplement debate 25:25 - How stress, emotional energy, and stored trauma affects health  28:00 - How Meredith became a trainer at P.volve  33:20 - What it's like to be a fitness instructor in the hyper-competitive NYC fitness industry  36:00 - Meredith's experience post-birth control and HA diagnosis  Links: The Hye Life website The Hye Life Instagram Link to Meredith's yoga classes 

This week I'm talking to Jessica Ash, a clinical nutritionist, functional diagnostic nutritionist, and expert on all things hormone health, women's health, gut health, thyroid, and metabolism.  If you have ever tried low-calorie, low-carb, keto diets, or fasting to find you either did not get the results you want, or felt even worse afterward (like I did), then this episode is a must-listen. Jess has tried every diet and wellness practice in the book since being diagnosed with multiple autoimmune diseases and PCOS at a young age. Jess is also a personal trainer and after seeing her own clients fail to lose weight on calorie restriction and tons of cardio, she started diving into the world of hormones to help her clients and heal herself. Now she has a very successful private practice and e-course where she helps countless women find true healing, make peace with their bodies, and heal their relationship with diet and exercise. In today's episode we talk about: 5:00 min- I share the story behind my personal health struggle with my thyroid and hormones that led me to work with Jess 19:00- How becoming very sick at 15 years old led her to study hormones, nutrition and specialize in women's health 25:00 -Why keto and low-carb diets can be harmful for women's health and hormones 29:13 - How intermittent fasting and low-carb diets can damage women's hormones and cause stress on the body 30:00 - Rethinking sugar and understanding how your cells and brain need it to function well 37:30 - Why reaching ketosis or a "fat-fueled" state is not all it's cracked up to be  38:00 - Why you can feel good on keto/low carb, but it's not sustainable and how your stress hormones can trick you to feel good 43:55 - Understanding what it means to have a metabolism first approach + what happens when your metabolism is slow 53:00 - Why it's not fair/good to compare our lifestyles to our ancestors  56:00 - Why thyroid health affects the entire body and the thyroid gut connection 57:00 - Why conventional thyroid treatment can still make you feel bad  1:02:00 - Discussing birth control from a holistic perspective: how it works, and what post-birth control syndrome is, and why saying birth control is "regulating" your cycle and hormones is a myth - How BC use (especially long term) can affect fertility and how Jess uses nutrition in her practice to support women therapeutically as they come off the pill 1:14 - Understanding how science studies in nutrition/exercise work and the gender gap problem in research Links:Jessica Ash on Instagram: @jessicaashwellness Website: jessicaashwellness.com  E-course: Fully Nourished Books I mention in the intro: Beyond the Pill - Dr. Jolene Brigthen This is Your Brain on Birth Control - Dr. Sarah Hill        

In this interview, I'm sitting down with Lo Bosworth, the founder of Love Wellness. You may remember Lo from Laguna Beach and The Hills, but Lo's reality TV days are long behind her and she's used her platform to help create an awesome wellness company and product line for women. I've been so impressed with Lo since I first met her a few years ago when I worked at Well+Good. When I was planning this podcast she was one of the first people to come to mind to interview because I think she's just an amazing voice in the space. Lo is an example of an influencer that uses her platform super intentionally, and I love that. She's talked about so many topics that we need more voices to share about -- like her struggle with mental health issues like anxiety and depression. And Love Wellness's new campaign is all about removing shame and breaking down barriers surrounding women's health issues. We also talk about: -What inspired Lo to start her own wellness company -How Love Wellness is empowering women with body-positive, science-backed info about health -Removing stigma and shame around women's health issues -How she creating a community to give women access to credible info and health experts -What to look for in quality supplements -How her struggle with anxiety and depression inspired her to start Love Wellness -How exercising less intensely helps her feel (and look) better Links: Love Wellness Website Lo Bosworth Instagram

Today I'm talking to Chelsea Connors, a therapist and certified life coach about how to manage anxiety, fear, and cope with hard emotions during difficult times. During a crisis like the one we are dealing with, everything feels out of control and this feeling often translates to fear, overwhelm, sadness and anxiety for a lot of people. Chelsea gives tools, tips, and resources for how to take care of your mental and emotional health right now. We also talk about: -Tools for coping with anxiety, fear and overwhelm -Coping with loneliness + lack of IRL connection -How to turn down the noise + create boundaries around news/social media  -What to do if you have a history with mental health issues and are worried about relapse  -How therapy practices are changing/adapting to be more accessible and virtual -Finding support for mental health + how to find a therapist or coach who is a good fit Chelsea's Website Chelsea's Instagram The Practice Membership program Connect with me: Instagram + Website

Today I'm talking to Heather Tomazin, a nurse who is currently working on the frontlines with COVID-19 patients in New York City.  I met Heather through an article I wrote for Well+Good about her experience working with COVID-19 patients since early March.  Heather is new to NYC and graduated pretty recently, but I think she is wise beyond her years. She is literally being thrown into the fire at the beginning of her career with this crisis and I so admire her positivity, her selflessness, and drive to help her patients.  Topics we cover: -Heather's experience as a new nurse and recent NYC transplant -How she volunteered to be one of the first nurses to work on the COVID unit in her hospital -How she's handling the crisis personally and at work -How she is coping with new anxiety + managing her mental health -Her journey with wellness and finding solutions for her health through functional medicine and nutrition -What she wants people to know that she doesn't think the media is talking about enough -How to keep the healthcare system from getting overwhelmed Links: Well+Good article Shine App (Heather uses for meditation) K Health Telemedicine (also ask your doctor if they do telehealth appointments) CDC Symptom Checker  Naturally Heather Instagram

In this special short solo episode, I'm telling you all about my experience getting diagnosed with COVID-19, what my symptoms are like, and telling you the things I wish I would have known before I got sick. 

Welcome to the first episode of Wellness Unedited! My name is Mercey Livingston and I'm a wellness journalist on a mission to bring you real, honest and unedited conversations on important wellness topics that matter. On the podcast, I'm talking to some of the most interesting leaders and changemakers in the industry -- like Lauren Roxburgh, aka "The Body Whisperer," in today's episode. Background on the podcast: I've always loved podcasts since discovering them and producing two shows in the past. Ever since I worked on a wellness podcast specifically I knew I wanted to have an excuse to talk to awesome experts in the space more and ask them all of my burning questions. As a journalist sometimes I can't always explore the topics I really want or the convos I have get very edited into an article, so I see this as a space to dive deeper and have those unedited conversations here.  Even though I've been planning this podcast for over a year, I decided to pivot the launch and focus on three special episodes in light of the coronavirus pandemic. To say the world has changed in every way in a matter of weeks is an understatement. So I thought about what kind of content might be of most service to people right now and I turned to three amazing people who are helping me feel more inspired, hopeful and cope with what's going on in the world.  About Lauren Roxburgh: Lauren Roxburgh is an international best-selling author, speaker and wellness educator and was one of the first people to come to mind for the show since she is such an inspiring person and has some amazing content to share that is so helpful and relevant right now. During today's episode, we talk about her work and how she helps people heal and align their bodies, the emotional-physical connection, how to use movement medicine to help process difficult emotions, clear stagnant energy, and how to boost your immune system holistically. We also talk about: -Lo's go-to rituals and practices that are helping her feel grounded, positive and healthy right now -How to work through hard emotions and choose elevated emotions to help boost your immune system -The healing benefits of nature and earthing  -Reframing + avoiding wasting energy on the need to control everything -Movement medicine and the importance of moving stagnant energy through the body -How fascia (the body's connective tissue) is connected to your nervous system and the immune system  -How stress is connected to inflammation in the body and how to rewire your brain to be more resilient to stress -The power of the subconscious mind -What this global pause is helping us learn as individuals and as a society Links: Lauren Roxburgh website + Instagram Books: Taller, Slimmer, Younger, and The Power Source The Aligned Life Online Studio The Aligned Life Foam Rollers and other healing tools Join the free The ImmUNITY Boosting Movement Medicine Program Book Lauren recommends: The Biology of Belief by Bruce Lipton Follow me on Instagram: @merceylivingston Website: wellnessunedited.com